WHEELING (WEST VIRGINIA)
WTRF
June 4, 2018
By Falicia Woody
It’s been over a week since the Diocese of Steubenville removed retired priest, Monsignor Mark Froehlich after allegations of sexual abuse were deemed “credible”.
But “Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests” or SNAP officials and alleged victims are now claiming the Diocese knew about the complaint since January.
There is a active investigation ongoing with the Belmont County Sheriffs Office regarding the issue, but according to SNAP, they want to see more being done.
Judy Jones, the SNAP Midwest Associate Leader, is standing alongside one of the alleged victims that came forward, Amanda Dutton. “The victim reported it way back in January. What took them so long?” says Jones.
Amanda tells me that she’s been trying to report the incident since she was a teenager. “It’s very hard to come forward…[Diocese said] Tell another priest, go within the Diocese. I did, I followed all orders, and once again they told me it was my fault for the way I was dressed.”
Fast forward to January 2018, and Amanda made a report to the Diocese of Steubenville. She later called them for an update. “I called the Diocese again, and they say ‘oh on the contrary. This has been handled.’ I said great! What happened? ‘We asked him if he did it or not.'”
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